16.40
Yielding To SoftDavid Trundley Artist At Punchestown Novice Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £7070.25
- 2m 6f 211y
- 12 runners
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Runners: 12 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 4-321P
Last run: 63 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 15 (7) |
11th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 46y |
9st 5lb |
Lost way after 2024 Kilbeggan novice hurdle win for John McConnell; well beaten all five Flat starts last year; best watched after break on first start for new stable. |
10/1 |
|
6th 2 (7) |
30th Sep 2025 Soft 1m 7f 0y Class 6 |
10st 1lb |
Maiden on the Flat, but won a novice handicap hurdle in September 2024 (2m3f, good to yielding); fair fourth in a 1m5f handicap here in July (good to soft; cheekpieces on for first time); headgear back on (poor run without it last time); interesting. |
11/2 |
Abandoned
Form: F-5013
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 6 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 54y |
11st 12lb |
1-17 over timber and rated 109; always behind when beaten 77l on sole chase start at Leopardstown in March (21.5f, yielding); mid-field in Punchestown handicap hurdle latest; others make more appeal. |
28/1 |
|
9th 16 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 81y |
10st 8lb |
1-16 over hurdles; ran well when a close third at Cork off 1lb higher on penultimate (2m4f, yielding); needs to bounce back from disappointing Fairyhouse run latest; others look better treated. |
33/1 |
|
12th 20 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 110y |
10st 0lb |
Second runner for local yard; sole win came here over 2m4f (yld-sft) in January 2025; below par this season until producing a fine run to finish a close third at Cork (2m4f, yielding) in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); 3lb wrong here but rider's claim negates that; can't be discounted. |
11/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 333
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 120y |
11st 1lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner gained first chase win under rules' on latest at Limerick (24.5f, sft-hvy); raised 6lb for that and this is a deeper race; will need a big career-best to follow up. |
13/2 |
|
1st 3 |
22nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 150y |
11st 8lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner whose success under rules came in 2m7f Punchestown novice handicap hurdle last season (soft); 0-5 chasing, well held last twice in Naas handicaps, albeit near-impossible task last time from 10lb out of handicap in Leinster National; drops in class so don't rule out. |
10/1 |
|
6th 16 |
8th Mar 2026 Heavy 3m 0f 174y |
10st 0lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner has one success under rules' which came in a comfortable fashion in a Punchestown novice handicap hurdle in February last year off 112 (2m7f, soft); well beaten in recent chase runs, including on handicap debut last time over 2m4f here (heavy); looks up against it from 10lb outside handicap. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -21311 C
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 10 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
10st 3lb |
Decent performer at a modest enough level, three hurdle wins and twice successful over fences off lower marks this term in Limerick handicaps, most recently last month when patiently-ridden to lead two out for ready 11l win (2m4f, soft); up 9lb but remains 10lb lower than hurdles so remains very much of interest. |
9/2 |
|
1st 8 |
31st Mar 2026 Soft 2m 3f 128y |
10st 10lb |
Three wins last year included a win over fences here over 2m6f; has to rebound from two poor runs since a second at Tramore on New Year's Day. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 511134 BF
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 3 |
22nd Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 110y |
11st 8lb |
Four-time hurdles winner; not solid on his form this term, latterly for new yard; unseated rider at Taunton over fences on latest; best form is on better ground than this. |
25/1 |
|
2 |
23rd Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 51y |
11st 9lb |
Three wins at Downpatrick and one at Carlisle which was the latest in February; showed nothing in two runs since that win but encouraging signs when fourth at Gowran 20 days ago and he's back on his last winning mark. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 115
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 9lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 9 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 160y |
11st 5lb |
One of two for trainer; two-time winner over hurdles at Wexford but no sign of her best form last season; tailed off on chasing debut at Kilbeggan (2m7f, good) last month when jumping lacked fluency. |
18/1 |
|
8th 13 |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 70y |
11st 5lb |
Has won twice over hurdles at Wexford, notably final start last term in 3m novice in April (yielding), relishing stamina test; no sign of her best hurdles form on last three runs. |
20/1 |
|
12th 12 |
25th Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 5f 200y |
10st 6lb |
Lightly raced mare with a good strike rate, winning Hexham mares' bumper, and for current yard twice over hurdles at Wexford, notably final start last term in 3m novice in April (yielding), relishing stamina test; likely more to offer but over further. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 244065
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Filly
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13th 17 |
30th Jul 2025 Good 2m 6f 0y |
11st 7lb |
Only win came on the Flat in 2023; back to something like her best with a third at Tipperary on penultimate start but not as good at Killarney since and this is tough race to try and break the maiden tag. |
25/1 |
|
7th 12 |
17th Jul 2025 Good 2m 4f 85y |
11st 2lb |
Running well in defeat on the Flat prior to her return to hurdles when third, not beaten far by Queenofthelodge; might have finished closer without a late error that day but best form has come on quicker ground than what is likely here. |
12/1 |
|
10 |
3rd Jul 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 90y |
11st 6lb |
Pulled up on last two hurdle starts in the spring; showed some promise in two runs on the Flat, especially last time at the Curragh when finishing close fourth of 16 (1m4f, good); needs to convert that promise now back hurdling. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4U3310 BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 |
16th May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Has been mostly chasing in the last year, winning a Kilbeggan beginners' over 2m5f; mightn't have lasted 3m2f last time and this trip back off a lower hurdles mark can suit; chance. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 3m 2f 50y |
11st 3lb |
Beginners' chase winner last year for Declan Queally but hasn't been as good since for different yards; has to return to best on second start for this stable; better ground a help. |
12/1 |
|
6th 9 |
4th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 45y |
10st 12lb |
Won a Kilbeggan beginners' chase (2m4f, good) last May for Declan Queally; placed over 2m4f in the first of two outings for Gordon Elliott in January; pulled up here on the second; has joined Ian Donoghue who tries a new headgear combination. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 96002
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 6 |
6th Mar 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 176y |
11st 12lb |
raced in second |
6/1 |
|
6 |
20th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 211y |
11st 3lb |
Left his previous maiden hurdle form behind when runner-up at Fairyhouse last month (beaten roughly 1l) and the third went close at Clonmel since; handicapper has revised his mark and may need further progress to win on handicap debut but longer trip may suit. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 255706
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
25th Aug 2025 Good 2m 1f 165y |
10st 13lb |
Fourth of 20 over hurdles on his penultimate start before a lesser show here over 2m6f; didn't run well in his last handicap chase either so not hard to have some reservations. |
12/1 |
|
6 |
15th Jul 2025 Good 2m 5f 185y |
11st 3lb |
Point-to-point winner yet to score under Rules; solid fourth at Punchestown (3m, gd-yld) on latest; nudged up 1lb for that and drops in trip; claims if he can back that up but that's not guaranteed. |
11/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 838-07
Last run: 13 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 91
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 9 |
24th Jul 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 0y |
10st 13lb |
0-14 under Rules and out of form when last seen in April at Naas; dropped another 2lb for that but lacks a run and may need softer ground. |
28/1 |
|
12th 16 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 0lb |
0-13 over hurdles, placed twice; encouragement from Punchestown run in February when far from disgraced under this rider but has plenty on to reverse the form with Mellem judged on latest effort at Leopardstown. |
33/1 |
|
12th 16 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 0lb |
0-13 over hurdles, placed twice; encouragement from Punchestown run in February when far from disgraced under this rider but has plenty on to reverse the form with Mellem judged on latest effort at Leopardstown. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 0070-5
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 3lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
13th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 0y |
10st 3lb |
led, headed after 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on run-in |
22/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
13th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 0y |
10st 3lb |
led, headed after 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on run-in |
22/1 |
Verdict
It’s hard to know where the ceiling of DUFFYS HODEY’s ability lies and an 8lb rise for his recent course success looks on the lenient side. Plenty of others arrive in good form including Must Go Now who had an in-form Portnacoo in behind at Fairyhouse while the likes of Rue Taylor and Prophet’s Corner both have workable opening handicap marks. [Phill Anderson]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Duffys HodeyThe Irish Sun:
Prophet's CornerRP RATINGS (IRE):
I Ballyadam MoonTOPSPEED:
PortnacooPOSTDATA:
Duffys Hodey